A/N

I'm glad to know that you guys enjoyed the Valentine's Day chapter! I saw a very good description of it, a romantic holiday without any romance (thank you pizzafan123). I've decided to not take down the holiday chapters, and just leave them there for later readers.

Ahh! I'm so excited! Chopper is finally entering the story soon! Chopper is so cute with his hat and his paws and his nose-chopsticks! Anyway. Fangirl moment over.

Enjoy!

Anni's POV

We approached the island slowly. It was a winter island with lots of snow and ice, and huge cylindrical mountains. The air temperature was dropping steadily, but I didn't feel it as much as the others because my fire-style powers kept me warm without thinking. The rest of the crew put on puffy jackets while I stayed in my t-shirt and shorts.

At one point, Vivi tried to get me to wrap up, saying, "You need to keep warm. You might get frostbite, or get sick. And heaven knows that we don't need two sick people on the ship."

I looked from the white jacket to my bare arms and replied, "Vivi, I promise I'll be fine. How am I gonna beat up Crocodile with a cold?"

Vivi smiled with a tinge of sadness. "Knowing you, you'd try to beat him up, cold or not."

"Tsk. Silly Vivi. Not 'try', I would." I corrected, then a thought struck me and I added, "Although, it would be harder to punch someone if I was blowing my nose every other second. Maybe I would kick him like Sanji does. That would be interesting."

"Still, at least please wear the jacket. You don't even have to do it up." She insisted, pushing the jacket into my hands.

Sighing, I wrapped it around my waist.

"There, is that good enough?"

Vivi smiled gratefully. "Thank you. If you get cold, then you can put it on." Her tone changed to a stern motherly tone. "And none of that 'I'm not cold, I don't need to put it on'."

"Yes, mother." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

Luffy's voice drifted down from the top of the mast.

"Oi! Guys! We're about to reach the island! First we'll find a doctor for Nami, then we'll stock up on provisions!"

Vivi rushed back to Nami to check on her, leaving me alone on the deck. I gazed up at the sky as white flakes of snow started drifting down from the clouds. Catching one in my palm, I watched as it melted almost instantly.

I must be really bored if I'm watching snow melt.

Looking up at the island, I watched as the ship drew closer to the snow. We drifted into a river mouth and continued on. The ship was soon covered with snow and every once in a while, someone would come out to admire the sparkly white powder.

I turned from the front to look across the boat. As I did so, a mound of snow moved to the side in the shape of a person. I immediately knew it was Zoro, who had been snoring on the deck a few minutes ago. The snow had covered him, giving the appearance that it was eating him. Deciding to save him from the carnivorous snow, I dug around and found his arm. I pulled him out, but the swordsman was still asleep. I grinned, this was a great opportunity.

I piled up one of the drifts of snow and stuck Zoro's feet in it, then covered the rest of him in snow, giving him the look of a snowman. Bending one of his arms, I stuck one of his katana in his hand, his hand automatically wrapping around it. Running into the girl's room, I grabbed a piece of paper and a marker, scribbling something before dashing back out. I stuck the sign on Zoro's snow covered front, and stepped back to admire my work. It was perfect.

The door to the kitchen opened, and Sanji stepped out. He looked from me to the snow covered swordsman, the walked down the stairs to see my artwork from the front. When he read the sign, he stifled a laugh.

"Well, I'd say that it captures Zoro's personality very well." Sanji said, still trying not to laugh.

The sign read, Gyaaah! I, the killer snowman Zoro, will destroy you all! Give me sake!

Combined with his relaxed look and slight snoring, Zoro looked as far from a killer as possible, despite the fact that he was still holding one of his sheathed katana. Sanji snickered, still taking in the scene.

"Do you do this a lot? You don't seem like the kind of person to do this." Sanji said.

I was still admiring my work, but I replied, "Well, not a lot, but it's pretty funny when I get the opportunity. This right here is a work of art."

"It is. Hang on, I have an idea." Sanji agreed, before rushing back into the kitchen. He came out with a purple marker, and drew cat whiskers and a nose on Zoro's face, then added 'kitty' between the words 'snowman' and 'Zoro'. I nodded in approval.

I voice sounded from behind us.

"I hope you know that you two will be in big trouble when he wakes up."

I turned to see Vivi had come back out and was standing with a frown on her face and her arms crossed.

"Geez. Am I not allowed to have some fun? You're so mean." I puffed out my cheeks.

Luffy suddenly bounded out into the snow, nearly knocking Vivi over.

"Woah! You guys made a snowman that looks exactly like Zoro!" He said in admiration.

Sanji and I rolled our eyes.

"That's because the marimo was sleeping. Anni decided to do something funny and then I joined in." Sanji said, looking at the banks of the river that we were gently floating down.

"Hey..." he continued while Luffy poked at the Zoro-snowman, "Don't you think that it's a little weird that no one came to see us? I'm sure that this island is inhabited."

I glanced around. "Yeah, you're right. It doesn't seem like anyone's gonna welcome us onto the island or anything."

Suddenly without warning, a bunch of arrows whizzed past us and lodged themselves in the deck. Jumping back in surprise, I looked up to the ridge on the bank where there were dozens of people dressed warmly aiming crossbows at us.

"Well then..." I started, trailing off when the largest man shifted his aim to me.

"Don't speak! Tell your captain to turn around and sail to the next island."

"Well how am I s'posed to do that if I can't speak?" I grumbled, heading inside to get Luffy, who had wandered back inside to eat.

Opening the door, I yelled, "Oi! Luffy! Get your ass out here! Some giant bears want to talk to you!"

He looked up with an interested expression.

"Oh? Giant bears? And they can talk?"

"No, but you can't deny the resemblance." I smirked, looking back at the twitching man.

Another arrow flew through the air and grazed my shoulder, not deep enough to scar, but enough to sting.

I threw my hands in the air in annoyance. "Sheesh! The world hates me..." I muttered, walking back down onto the deck.

"It would be smart to listen before insulting them," Sanji berated me.

I groaned, sitting down on the snowy side of the ship. Luffy walked down to the center of the deck and called out to the people on the bank, seemingly oblivious to the bows.

"Can you please take us to your doctor? One of our nakama is sick, and we need someone to help her."

The eyes of the large man hardened, and he said stiffly, "No. You must turn around and leave this island at once."

Luffy tried again, bowing his head. "Please. We don't have time to go to another island. We barely even have time to get her on shore."

Another arrow shot by.

"No."

Luffy slowly knelt down on the deck, touching his head to the planks.

"We're begging you to please let us see your doctor. Our nakama might not hold out much longer."

I could see the terrible word forming, so my patience snapped and I yelled, "Hey! Your shitty little minds might not be able to comprehend the situation, but ya know what I see? I see my captain, who I respect, kneeling in front of some piece of shit who can't bring his selfish little mind to let a dying person see a doctor!"

Something in my rant must have hit a nerve, because the people started to whisper among themselves. The crossbow of the man in charge lowered slightly, and he spoke in a quieter voice.

"Bring your comrade to me, and we might be able to do something about her condition."

I still scowled. "Finally. I guess some bears do have hearts."

Vivi emerged from the cabin, carrying Nami, who was wrapped in blankets from head to toe. She lay her down on the deck and moved the blankets away from her face so that the man could inspect her condition. He jumped onto the deck with a thump, walked over to Nami and bent down to look at her. Finally, he straightened and spoke in an authoritative voice.

"We have one doctor, but we cannot guarantee when she will come. She lives on a mountain top and only comes down on a whim with her strange creature. We call her a witch. You should bring your comrade into the village. The villagers," he looked pointedly at the people who had accompanied him in shooting at our ship, "will go back to their houses."

Grumbling quietly, they all turned and started back towards their respective houses, while we set about getting ready for the walk into the village.

XxX

Now, you might ask me why I was currently sprawled stomach-down on the deck with a sword aimed at my back. I will give you the short answer first: snowman-kitty woke up, chased me, then cook accidentally tripped me. Now for the details:

It was a few minutes after the villagers had left. Most of us were inside, but we had forgotten about our zombie-snowman-kitty who was still outside. It was me who first heard the growl from the door, but it was all of us who noticed when the door was kicked open with an angry Zoro standing in the frame with the marker smudged off his face.

"Geez, man, don't wreak the Merry." Usopp said grouchily.

Ignoring him, the furious swordsman marched up to me and Sanji.

"Which of you was it?" he growled.

My hand immediately flew up to point at Sanji, while he suddenly became very interested in a spot on the counter. Zoro stared in confusion, but then made up his mind. Apparently, it was me.

"You." he said, drawing one of his katana.

For lack of a better reaction, I yelped and scurried out the door. Sanji, trying to save me from the terror that was the snowman-kitty, ran towards me to block Zoro. Unfortunately, one of Usopp's inventions was lying on the ground and he tripped over it. He managed to keep himself from falling by grabbing the doorframe, but he accidentally crashed into me and I was sent sprawling on the outside deck.

"Dammit, shit cook!" I yelled as I crashed to the floor ungracefully. I tried to push myself up, but I felt the cold metal of the blade digging into my back. Behind me, I heard Vivi gasp.

"Sanji, how could you do that to a lady?" she asked, horrified.

I laughed from my spot on the ground as Sanji frantically apologized.

"It's okay Vivi. I don't act like a lady much, so it's fine with me."

"Yes, but still..." she mumbled, trailing off.

I turned my attention to my captor.

"So... what now, snowman?"

The sword pushed me down further.

"You. You will stay like that until you apologize and I see fit to release you."

I groaned. "Well, that's gonna take forever 'cuz I sure as hell don't feel the need to apologize to a baka-marimo like you."

The sword twitched.

"Hey, hey, hey! I don't need three injuries, two is enough for now!"

Usopp coughed. "Yeah, Anni. About that scar on your knee, where did it come from?"

I grinned. "From a huge spider on the giant's island! Actually, I don't think that I killed it..." I trailed off.

From behind me, Vivi and Usopp shivered, and removed themselves from the conversation with the excuse that they had to get Nami ready. Then Luffy spoke up.

"Did it have reddish-orange stripes and long fangs and look like a demon spider?"

I recalled the image and the description fit pretty well.

"Yeah, kinda."

"Shishishi," Luffy chuckled, "That must have been the spider I found in the crow's nest on the mast! He was cool, but I had to make him a cage so he wouldn't fall overboard. He's down in the guy's room."

The sword removed itself from my back.

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?" said a quiet voice from above my head.

Luffy jumped over the piles of snow to dig out the trapdoor. Opening it, he disappeared, and reappeared with a cage the size of a dog kennel. Inside was a large dark shape that hissed menacingly at the sight of me.

A reflex set my hand on fire, and I walked towards it slowly.

"Luffy, that little bastard needs to die. So back away from the cage."

He covered it protectively.

"No! He's mine, and you can't hurt him! Don't worry, Fluffy," he said to the spider.

"Fluffy?!" Zoro asked incredulously.

Luffy grinned. "Yeah, Fluffy! That's his name, because when you write it down, it looks like Luffy!"

Sanji sighed quietly. "I didn't know you could write. Or read, for that matter."

"Anyways, that abomination does not belong to the land of the living, so it's now my job to remove it." I said venomously, but before I could do anything, the door banged open and Vivi stepped out with Nami hanging from her and Usopp's shoulders.

"Alright! Let's go..." she trailed off, looking at the cage. "Luffy, what is that?"

Before he could answer and scare Vivi and Usopp out of their minds, I pushed him down into the guy's room, making sure not to touch the cage.

"Luffy, leave that thing down here, and I promise not to kill it." I muttered.

He tucked the cage away under a blanket and turned to me. "Promise?"

"...Promise..." I said, dragging the word out.

"Yosha! Let's go save Nami!" he cheered.

XxX

The man came back a few minutes after we were ready. He introduced himself as Dalton. Nami was lifted onto Sanji's back, and we started out towards the village, aside from Zoro, who was volun-told by Luffy to guard the ship with Carue, as long as he didn't hurt Fluffy. Actually, Luffy would have made me stay as well, but he didn't trust me enough to protect (not murder) that atrocity of living beings.

As we walked to the village, a giant bear strolled past us with a pick in its hands. Dalton told us that it was a Hiking Bear, and to bow when we passed it, so we did.

Upon entering the village, we were swarmed with people asking if Dalton was alright. One old man mentioned, "Ah, Dalton. I'm looking forwards to the election. I'm sure we're all going to vote for you!"

Dalton responded negatively, saying that he had too many sins to be whatever their leader was called, king, emperor, mayor... yeah.

I heard heavy footsteps from behind us. Thinking that it must be another Hiking Bear, I bowed, and Luffy and Usopp followed suit. It was only when the bear spoke, that we realized that it wasn't a bear at all, but a woman. I rubbed the back of my head, slightly embarrassed, until we were ushered inside Dalton's house.

As we lay Nami down on a bed, Dalton spoke to Vivi.

"I feel as though I have met you before. Do I know you?"

Vivi quickly turned her head, and I interrupted, "Hey, so what's that witch like, and what about that 'strange creature'?"

Dalton turned and spoke seriously, "The mountains out there are called the Drum Rockies, and the tallest one had a castle without a king. That is where our witch, Dr. Kureha, lives. However, she does come down from time to time, riding on her sleigh pulled by her strange pet."

I nodded. "Okay, so you're saying that we can't get Nami treated until we climb this mountain, right? This sucks."

"Luffy! What the hell are you doing to Nami?!"

I spun around from the window to see Luffy gently slapping Nami's face.

"Hey... Hey, Nami, can you hear me?"

Nami stirred and opened her eyes slowly as Luffy said, "We need to see a doctor that lives on a mountain, so we're going mountain climbing, 'kay?"

Nami groaned and nodded slightly, before falling back to sleep.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Sanji said incredulously.

Luffy looked at him. "It's fine. I can carry her."

"Yeah, that's not what I meant. How will she survive mountain climbing in this snow?" Sanji asked.

"How will she survive down here, if the witch doesn't come?" I chimed in seriously.

Sanji, Vivi and Usopp stared at me.

"Point taken. So, we're going mountain climbing to save Nami-san's life." Sanji spoke quietly.

Luffy looked around at us. "So it's settled. We will leave in the morning to go find the witch."

A/N

Yeah, short chapter. I really wanted to post something though, because I haven't for the past week or so. :( Anyways, good news! Science fair is over, so I have more time to write! Yay! I will try my best to get the next chapter out within a week.

Hey! The spider returned! I bet you thought that I had forgotten! Don't worry, I have an idea of what to do with it, but feel free to leave suggestions.

Btw, I know you guys are out there... with ideas and suggestions... hint hint... no pressure, seriously, but still...

See ya!